Vehicle suspension having active camber variation

ABSTRACT

The vehicle includes a suspended running chassis ( 1 ) making it possible to define a longitudinal and vertical plane forming a reference on the chassis ( 1 ), the preferred running direction being parallel to the longitudinal plane, and at least two wheel connecting systems, the wheels ( 2 ) of which are not aligned relative to the longitudinal plane, the wheel connecting systems being mounted on the chassis ( 1 ) on either side of the latter in the transverse direction, each of the wheel connecting systems including a wheel ( 2 ) mounted on a support ( 5 ) by means of a suspension device allowing vertical deflection of the wheel ( 2 ) relative to the support ( 5 ), the suspensions being independent of one another. Each support ( 5 ) is mounted on the chassis ( 1 ) by means of a camber mechanism which includes a camber lever ( 4 ) and an actuating lever ( 40 ) making it possible to vary the camber angle of the corresponding wheel ( 2 ). The camber mechanism includes an arm ( 70 ) mounted on the support ( 5 ) on an axis of support oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal plane, and mounted on the chassis ( 1 ) without any possibility of tilting about a longitudinal axis relative to the chassis ( 1 ), so as to transmit the weight carried by the chassis to the support ( 5 ).

This is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 09/710,296, filed Nov. 11, 2000,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,036, which is a divisional of U.S. applicationSer. No. 09/078,052, filed on May 13, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,838,which claims priority to French patent application 97/06227, filed May16, 1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a suspension for vehicles, inparticular road vehicles. It relates both to the guidance of a vehiclewheel relative to the body of this vehicle and to the organization ofthe deflection of the wheel relative to the chassis. It relates moreparticularly to means used for actively controlling the position of thewheel plane relative to the body.

It is known that a wheel is mounted on a hub and that the hub is mountedon a wheel carrier by means of a rolling bearing which embodies the axisof rotation of the wheel. The guidance of the wheel involves allowingthe wheel carrier to be displaced relative to the vehicle by an extentwhich is sufficient for the suspension of the vehicle. Moreover, theguidance of the wheel must be such that the control of the path of thevehicle via the grip of the tires on the ground is ensured under thebest possible conditions. The deflecting movement which is sought is ofgreat extent in the vertical direction.

It is customary for this movement to be designated by the expression“vertical suspension”. It may be desirable to allow slight movement inthe longitudinal direction (“horizontal suspension” is then referredto), while, ideally, the aim is to avoid any relative movement in thetransverse direction. Moreover, the steering and the camber variationswhich all these movements may induce must be strictly contained, thusalso resulting in a design constraint which the average person skilledin the art must take into account.

If the “plane” of the wheel is what is meant by the plane perpendicularto the axis of rotation of the wheel and passing through the middle ofthe wheel or, more specifically, through the center of the area ofcontact with the ground of a tire mounted on said wheel, the control ofthe deflecting movements is tantamount to saying that guidance mustensure a strictly controlled position of the plane of the wheel relativeto the chassis. It is still possible to define a longitudinal andvertical plane forming a reference to identify the preferred runningdirection which is parallel to said longitudinal plane. The purpose ofguiding the plane of the wheel is to control as strictly as possible therelative position of the plane of the wheel relative to saidlongitudinal plane in terms of angle and distance.

The guidance of the wheel plane directly affects the attitude of thetire in relation to the ground, hence the stresses which said tireundergoes and the more or less favorable position which it assumes inorder to transmit forces, in particular forces in the transversedirection. Now these forces are known to be of primary importance forthe guidance of the vehicle and therefore for safety.

Road vehicles in use at the present time are known to experience arolling movement precisely because of their suspension. In fact, thecentrifugal force causes a transfer of load toward the outside of thebend, thus resulting in an increase in compression of the suspensions onthe outside of the bend and an expansion of the suspensions on theinside of the bend. Now this roll is detrimental both to passengercomfort and to the roadholding of the vehicle due to the increase in thecamber of the wheels which it brings about. The means used most often tocombat this roll involves using one or more antiroll bars.Unfortunately, an antiroll bar can only limit the roll by opposing areaction torque to the latter. In principle, it cannot prevent roll fromtaking hold, and therefore it cannot prevent the wheels from beinginclined in a direction unfavorable to the proper functioning of thetires.

Other solutions making it possible to combat roll more radically arealso known. It is possible to conceive a pendulum suspension (purelypassive). Such suspensions can force the wheel plane to be inclinedtoward the inside of the bend by means of a suitable mechanism, or elsethey can also transfer the rolling axis of the vehicle above the centerof gravity, so that the vehicle body is naturally inclined toward theinside of the bend. However, pendulum suspensions have not had muchsuccess, probably because of the difficulty of installing suspensionarms and joints making it possible to achieve this result. The intrusionof suspension arms and joints in places which it is desirable to leavefree for the passenger compartment or for installing the engine ortransmission of the vehicle would appear to be a disadvantage. Thisproblem seems to limit this type of suspension to a few types ofvehicle, such as, for example, in the field of railroads. Moreover, ingeneral terms pendulum suspensions increase the overload on the wheelslocated on the outside of the bend by displacing the center of gravityof the vehicle toward the outside of the bend. This is particularlydetrimental with regard to road vehicles equipped with tires.

Moreover, research for an even better compromise between suspensioncomfort and roadholding leads to the provision of so-called active orsemiactive suspensions, the control of which is now made possible byadvances in electronics. However, it is found that these control meansare transplanted onto suspensions which are still of traditionalmechanical design, said control means being adapted to the defects ofthese suspensions, without looking to make use of new parameters insuspension kinematics. In other words, active or semiactive suspensionsare concerned simply with controlling the damping characteristics of thesuspensions and even the flexibility characteristics, while at the sametime preserving suspension kinematics derived directly from conventionalforms of construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to improve the operating safety ofvehicles by means of suspension kinematics allowing active control ofthe camber of the wheel, in order to maintain the tires in a positionrelative to the ground which is as favorable as possible to their gripand their fatigue strength, even in the event of extremely severestresses.

The invention provides a vehicle comprising:

a suspended running chassis making it possible to define thereon alongitudinal and vertical plane forming a reference, the preferredrunning direction of the vehicle being parallel to said longitudinalplane,

at least two wheel connecting systems, each comprising a wheel, saidwheel connecting systems being mounted on said chassis on either side ofthe latter in a transverse direction, each of the wheel connectingsystems comprising a wheel mounted on a support by means of a suspensiondevice allowing deflection of the wheel relative to the support, saidsuspensions being independent of one another, the deflecting movementtaking place in the plane of the wheel, the deflection stroke beingsufficient to afford the required vertical suspension movement,

wherein each support is mounted on said chassis by means of a cambermechanism making it possible to vary the camber angle of thecorresponding wheel, said camber mechanism acting between the chassisand each support, so as to incline the plane of each wheel relative tosaid longitudinal plane in order to impart a camber angle of desiredamplitude to the planes of said wheels, thus inclining all the wheelsrelative to the ground in the same direction.

It is especially advantageous to control the camber angle so as toimprove the behavior or comfort of the vehicle on a bend. The inventionmakes it possible to incline the plane of each wheel in the oppositedirection to transverse acceleration. For this purpose, the vehiclecomprises at least one sensor for recording the value of at least oneparameter making it possible to evaluate the transverse accelerationexerted on the vehicle, and calculation means for calculating theamplitude of each camber angle as a function of the value or valuesrecorded, said camber mechanism comprising control means acting underthe control of said calculation means.

Typically, the transverse acceleration in question is the centrifugalforce occurring on a bend. The invention allows active control of thecamber of the wheels. By virtue of the arrangement provided by theinvention, a tendency of tires to exhibit pronounced wear at theshoulders is combated effectively, this tendency being well known inpassenger cars driven for sport. In this case, the tread may beexcessively offset axially toward the center of the vehicle. The activecontrol of the camber corrects this tendency. Moreover, even when,simultaneously, the wheel experiences camber variations and the verticalsuspension experiences pronounced deflections, the mode of functioningof the tire remains as far as possible optimal.

It may be noted that the camber is the angle which the plane of thewheel forms relative to a straight line perpendicular to the ground. Ofcourse, it is not possible to act directly thereon by controlling theposition of the wheel relative to the ground, since it is inconceivableto come to bear on the ground itself in order to control the cambervariation. It is possible only to act indirectly via a mechanismconnected to the chassis.

The invention applies particularly to four-wheeled vehicles, such aspassenger cars. The camber angle variation concerned here is of greatextent, that is to say is nearer the values frequently swept bymotorcycles than the set values which may exist in a conventionalfour-wheeled passenger car. For clarification, the range of variation isof the order of ±15° to ±20. At all events, the range of variation issuch that, when the wheel tilts about its area of contact with theground, the transverse displacement of the radially upper part of thewheel may reach an extent greater than the width of said wheel. Ofcourse, the amplitude of the camber is possibly not identical for eachof the wheels of the vehicle, whereas the tilting direction of thewheels is always the same and is directed opposite to the transverseacceleration originating from the centrifugal force. The top of thewheel therefore tilts in the centripetal direction.

It can be seen that the invention provides suspension kinematics whichare as pure as possible: the wheel connecting system not only offersvertical suspension, but it also makes it possible to modify the camberof the wheel at any moment, without thereby reducing the stroke of thevertical suspension in terms of either compression or expansion, whileat the same time maintaining vertical suspension under optimal operatingconditions. Strictly speaking, it would be more appropriate to refer todeflection located in the wheelplane and directed perpendicularly to therunning movement of the vehicle. For the sake of linguistic convenience,this degree of freedom is designated by “vertical suspension”.

In an especially advantageous variant, the invention provides anassembly making it possible to integrate the guidance and the elementsnecessary for the so-called vertical suspension into the interior of thewheel. The essential functions of the suspension (guidance of the wheelplane, degree of freedom of deflection in the desired direction andcontrol of the deflecting movements) are thereby integrated into thevolume within the wheel. This makes it possible to ensure that theassembly is highly compact.

According to another variant, the invention provides a passenger carwith active control of roll: the passenger compartment of the vehicle ismounted on the chassis in such a way that said compartment can beinclined toward the inside of the bend as a function of the centrifugalforce. Here again, although roll is a measure of the lean angle of thepassenger compartment relative to the ground, action is taken on theroll angle indirectly by bearing on the chassis. The object is toachieve a substantial range of variation of the roll angle of thepassenger compartment, of the same order of magnitude as the range ofvariation of the camber. Thus, without necessarily achieving the rollangles which a vehicle having two in-line wheels (for example amotorcycle) may assume, the effect produced is sufficiently noticeableto alter radically the impression felt by the passengers of such avehicle and thus to contribute to their comfort.

Another embodiment provides a horizontal suspension of the wheels, thatis to say a suspension which allows the wheels to move along thelongitudinal axis relative to the chassis when they encounter anobstacle. This contributes to comfort by avoiding transmitting violentshocks to the tire, due to the reduction in the impact speed.

The invention will be understood better from the following descriptionrelating to a four wheeled vehicle. The invention applies particularlyto vehicles comprising at least four wheels, although the example givenis not limiting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying figures:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing one quarter of a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic front view showing the main members of a wheelconnecting system, with two camber values being superposed one on theother;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic top view showing the main members of a wheelconnecting system, with two positions for the horizontal deflection ofthe suspension being superposed one on the other;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the control of the wheelconnections; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the chassis, the passengercompartment, and part of the camber mechanism interposed between thechassis and the passenger compartment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows, in particular, a chassis 1 which consists of a centralbeam and to which all the members of the vehicle are fastened. Eachwheel connecting system of the vehicle is preferably identical. Fourwheels 2 are therefore mounted on the chassis 1 by means of identicalmembers, and because of this it is sufficient to describe only one ofthe wheel connecting systems in order to describe the invention fully.

There can be seen a support 5, belonging to a wheel connecting system,and its a mounting points on the vehicle: two lower points 50, forming ahorizontal axis AA′, and an upper point 52 at the end of a bracket 51.There are three support mounting points, so that said support can bestrictly maintained in position (maintaining the wheel plane). Moreover,there can also be seen a lever 61, on the end of which action is takenin order to control the steering of the wheel 2. On the steering axle,the levers 61 are controlled by a steering mechanism, a control rod 62of which can be seen. Preferably, the steering mechanism is to make theangle of steering of the wheels sufficiently insensitive to variationsin camber (and also to variations in roll if the roll of the body iscontrolled actively—a suitable installation is given below). On anonsteering axle, either a simplified wheel connecting system is used,which prevents steering of the wheel, or the wheel carrier 56 isimmobilized by connecting a link to the levers 61 in a suitable way, inthis case preferably a link of adjustable length.

The wheel carrier 56 is mounted on the support 5 by means of a singlebar 55 sliding in the support 5, the wheel carrier being mounted withoutany degree of freedom on the bar 55 at the two ends of the latter, saidbar 55 being arranged in the volume delimited radially by the rim ofsaid wheel 2, said suspension device comprising means for controllingthe deflection of the wheel carrier relative to the support. This is howit is possible for the wheel 2 to be deflected vertically relative tothe support 5.

Finally, a traction motor 8, for example a hydraulic or electric motor,can be seen, this type of traction being more convenient to install thana transmission by means of a mechanical shaft, in light of the need toaccommodate the camber variations.

In order to control the deflection, use is made, for example, of aspring and shock absorber which are not illustrated so as not tooverload the drawing. It will be possible, for example, to arrange aspring parallel to the bar 55 and offset relative to the latter, saidspring being accommodated within the rim and in front of the slideway inFIG. 1. A linear or rotary shock absorber, which may be accommodated onthe other side of the slideway, could be used. One of these or both may,of course, be under active control, the invention not dealing per sewith the spring and damping functions.

The support 5 is fastened to the chassis 1 of the vehicle by means of anarm 70 and a rod 75. The end of the arm 70 forms a fork 71 connected tothe support 5 by means of the first two points 50, with possibility oftilting of the support 5 relative to the arm 70 about the axis AA′. Thearm 70 is mounted on the chassis of the vehicle so as to be capable oftransmitting the suspended weight of the latter and transferring it tothe support 5. The arm could be purely and simply mounted in the chassis1, if independent horizontal suspension is not to be provided. There isstill a degree of freedom of tilting of the support 5 about the axisAA′. Under the action of camber control means, the rod 75 is displacedtransversely relative to the arm 70 in order to vary the position of thepoint 52 relative to the position of the axis AA′, thus making itpossible to change the camber value of the wheel 2.

Thus, the camber mechanism of the vehicle comprises an arm 70 mounted onthe support 5 on an axis of support oriented substantially parallel tosaid longitudinal plane, and mounted on the chassis 1 without anypossibility of tilting about a longitudinal axis relative to saidchassis, so as to transmit the weight carried by the chassis 1 to thesupport 5 by means of said arm, the camber mechanism comprising a meansfor tilting the support about said axis of support 5.

It may be noted that the design arrangement provided by the inventionmakes it possible, for any camber and steering value and for any valueof the deflection of the horizontal suspension, to maintain, in theplane of the wheel, the degree of freedom of deflection which verticalsuspension requires. It is also because of this that the tire alwaysremains under optimal operating conditions, even when the functioning ofthe tire in a transient state is considered. On a bend, and thereforewhen there is even appreciable camber, the vertical deflection of thewheel which may possibly be caused by uneven ground does notsignificantly change the way the vehicle bears transversely on itswheels. As is obvious, at this moment, a vehicle bears essentially onthe wheels located on the outside of the bend. Any tendency to causetransverse variations in the groundbearing reactions of the path of thevehicle is effectively combated.

Thus, the vehicle described is notable in that each of the wheelconnecting systems comprises a hub designed for supporting a wheel 2 andcomprises a wheel carrier defining the axis of rotation of the hub, saidwheel carrier being guided translationally relative to the support in arectilinear movement parallel to a perpendicular to the axis of rotationof the hub, the support 5 comprising at least one mounting point toenable the support 5 to be mounted on said chassis 1.

Since the vehicle illustrating the invention comprises a horizontalsuspension, the arm 70 and the rod 75 are not directly mounted on thechassis. It is necessary for the camber mechanism to be capable offollowing the movements of the horizontal suspension, without inducingany unwanted variation in the camber. Before the details of the cambermechanism are described, let us first examine the design of thehorizontal suspension.

The arm 70, which transfers the weight of the vehicle to the wheel 2, isconnected to the chassis 1, while at the same time a movement of the armallowing horizontal suspension is permitted. In order to transmit theload, it is necessary for the arm 70 to be connected to the chassis 1without any possibility of tilting of the arm relative to the chassis 1about a longitudinal axis. For this purpose, the arm 70 is part of acomponent forming an angle piece 7. The latter comprises a verticalbranch 72. Arranged at the two ends of the branch 72 are yokes allowingconnection to a box 3 via a vertical axis of articulation CC′. Thehorizontal branch of the angle piece 7, that is to say the arm 70,comprises a ball joint 73 forming a vertical axis which is arrangedtransversely on that side 74 of the arm 70 opposite the fork 71 andwhich is arranged longitudinally on the opposite side to the verticalbranch 72.

Reference to FIG. 3 makes it possible to understand how the horizontalsuspension functions. It can be seen, in particular, that the positionof the arm 70 and of the box 3 is represented by unbroken lines for amid-position and by broken lines for another position. The stroke ofsuch a horizontal suspension is a matter of centimeters, without thehorizontal deflection interfering either with the camber or with thesteering. Consequently, a rocker 79, correctly articulated on the arm70, allows the steering control rod 62 to follow the deflectingmovements of the horizontal suspension, without causing any inducedsteering.

There are therefore three support points for the arm 70, making itpossible to hold it strictly, that is to say without any possibility ofits tilting about a longitudinal axis Prelative to the chassis 1. Thevehicle weight is transmitted to the wheel 2 via the box 3. In order toallow horizontal deflection of the wheel, while at the same timetransmitting the weight of the vehicle, the box 3 is mounted on thechassis 1 on a vertical axis DD′ obtained by means of two separate yokes31 and 32. A link 30 forms a parallelogram with the box 3, the assemblyas a whole being seen in a horizontal plane (see FIG. 3). The link 30 ismounted on the chassis 1 by means of a pivot 33. The horizontal movementof the arm 70 is controlled by a suitable device 35, for example asimple rubber block, in light of the small deflections for whichallowance need be allowed.

This constitutes a mechanism for the horizontal suspension of thecorresponding wheel: the suspended weight is transfeffed to the support5 by means of the arm 70, the rod 75 being displaced transverselyrelative to the arm 70 by said camber control means, the latter beingunaffected by the weight of the vehicle. The arm 70 is mounted on thechassis 1 on at least two vertical axes (here, the axes CC′ and DD′)which are parallel and horizontally separated, these constitutingvertices of a horizontal suspension mechanism forming a parallelogram,as seen in a horizontal plane, the other two vertices being integralwith the chassis 1.

Many other horizontal suspension devices may be adopted. It may be notedthat the essential point, as regards the horizontal suspension, is toensure that the arm 70 is mounted on the chassis 1 by means of ahorizontal suspension device allowing the support to move parallel tothe preferred running direction.

We shall now continue by describing the mechanism for controlling thecamber of each wheel 2. The latter, as seen in a vertical planeperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (see FIG. 2),forms a parallelogram, two vertices of which are formed by two mountingpoints 50, 52 located on the support 5 and arranged vertically one abovethe other and two sides of which are formed by the arm 70 and the rod 75parallel thereto, the arm and the rod terminating at the mounting points50, 52. This parallelogram makes it possible for the mounting points 50,52 of the support 5 to be offset transversely toward the chassis. Thelength of the rod 75 corresponds to the length of the arm 70, asmeasured between the axes AA′ and BB′. The rod 75 connects the point 52of the support 5 to the point 750 located on a pivoted lever 40oscillating about the axis BB′. A camber lever 4 is mounted on thechassis 1 so as to oscillate about a longitudinal axis XX′ and ismounted at a chassis point 43 located transversely at the center of thevehicle. A rod 44 connects a ball joint 41 of the lever 40 to a balljoint 42 of the camber lever 4, the point 46 (located on the axis BB′),the ball joints 41, 42 and the point 43 forming a parallelogram. Theball joints 41 and 42 adapt both to the camber variations imparted tothe wheel 2 and the horizontal displacements attributable to the degreeof freedom introduced by the horizontal suspension.

A jack 45 is interposed between the camber lever 4 and the chassis 1.The jack 45 is controlled in such a way that it assumes a specificlength according to the camber angle which is to be imparted to thewheels 2. A look at FIG. 2 makes it possible to understand theorganization of the movements for controlling the wheel camber. Therecan be seen, in particular, the position of the rod 75 and theconfiguration of the lever 40 and of the camber lever 4, as representedby unbroken lines with regard to zero camber and by broken lines asregards a nonzero value of the camber.

As regards the passenger compartment P of the vehicle, either it isintegral with the chassis 1 or it is mounted pivotally on the chassis 1on a longitudinal axis of articulation XX′ passing through the point 43.In the latter case, the vehicle is such that it comprises:

a passenger compartment for the transport of passengers, which ismounted on the chassis 1 so as to be inclinable about a longitudinalaxis, in such a way that the passenger compartment forms a variable rollangle relative to said chassis 1,

mechanical means interposed between the chassis 1 and the passengercompartment and acting so as to impart said roll angle in the samedirection as the camber,

calculation means for calculating said roll angle as a function of thevalue or values recorded, said interposed mechanical means acting underthe control of said calculation means.

By making the passenger compartment integral with the camber lever 4,the passenger compartment assumes a roll angle relative to the chassis 1which is identical to the camber angle imparted to the wheels. Thus, thecamber mechanisms of each of the wheels are actuated by said mechanicalmeans interposed between the chassis 1 and the passenger compartment, insuch a way that the variation in camber of the wheels and the variationin the roll angle of the passenger compartment are synchronous. Thiscontributes to the comfort of the passengers, additionally due to aperception of greater safety in the movement of the vehicle. It may benoted that this also contributes per se to safety, in that the center ofgravity of the vehicle is displaced toward the inside of the bend, thusreducing the load fraction which is transferred to the wheels located onthe outside of the bend. Not only do the tires work in a more favorableposition relative to the ground, but, furthermore, in this embodiment,the instantaneous overload on the tires on the outside of the bend islower than if there were no correction of camber.

In order to control the camber angle, and indeed the roll angle, of thepassenger compartment as a function of the centrifugal force exerted onthe vehicle, at least one sensor S may be installed on the vehicle inorder to record the value of at least one parameter making it possibleto evaluate said centrifugal force. This may be a direct measurement ofthe centrifugal acceleration or else an evaluation as a function ofindirect parameters, such as the speed of the vehicle and the steeringwheel angle, as shown in FIG. 4. At all events, calculation means (forexample, a microprocessor M loaded with the appropriate program) makesit possible to implement regulating strategies in the manner of theprocedure for controlling active suspensions, in order to calculate theroll angle to be imparted. Such a strategy may take into account variouschoices for implementing it, such as, for example, a proportionalityvalue setting the level of transverse acceleration at which the maximumroll angle permitted by the roll mechanism is reached. On the basis ofthe roll angle calculated, it is possible to control the jack 45, asshown in FIG. 4.

On the basis of what has just been described, the average person skilledin the art may make adaptions according to his own wishes, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. For example, there isnothing to prevent adding filtering between the passenger compartmentand the chassis, for example by means of elastic rubber blocks.

We claim:
 1. A vehicle comprising: a suspended longitudinally extendingchassis, at least two wheel connecting systems, each comprising a wheel,said wheel connecting systems being mounted on said chassis on eitherside of the latter, each of the wheel connecting systems comprising awheel mounted on a support, each wheel connecting system comprisingguiding elements for deflection of the respective wheel relative to therespective support, the deflection taking place in the plane of thewheels and being sufficient to afford a vertical suspension movement,the supports being mounted on a camber mechanism, said camber mechanismbeing mounted on said chassis, said camber mechanism acting between thechassis and the supports so as to incline the plane of each wheelrelative to said chassis in order to impart a camber angle of desiredamplitude for each of said wheels to the planes of said wheels, thusmaking it possible to impose a variable camber angle to each of thewheels relative to the ground in the same direction, a passengercompartment mounted on said chassis so as to be inclinable about alongitudinal roll axis and interconnected with the chassis such that aroll angle of the passenger compartment is variable in the samedirection as the camber angle of each wheel, and a controller responsiveto a parameter representative of the transverse acceleration of thevehicle for controlling the camber mechanism to adjust at least thecamber angle.
 2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cambermechanism comprises an arm mounted on each support on an axis of supportand mounted on the chassis without any possibility of tilting about alongitudinal axis relative to said chassis, so as to transmit the weightcarried by the chassis to the supports by means of the arms.
 3. Avehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the suspended weight istransferred to each support by means of the respective arm, the cambermechanism comprising a rod displaced transversely relative to each arm.4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the camber mechanism, asseen in a vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thevehicle, forms a parallelogram on either side of the chassis, twovertices of which are formed by two mounting points located on thesupports and arranged vertically one above the other and two parallelsides of which are formed by the arms and the rods parallel thereto, thearms and the rods terminating at the mounting points.
 5. A vehicle asclaimed in claim 4, wherein each rod is displaced transversely relativeto the respective arm by said controller, and wherein each arm ismounted on the chassis by means of a horizontal suspension deviceallowing the respective support to move parallel to a running direction,which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
 6. A vehicleas claimed in claim 5, wherein each arm is mounted on the chassis on atleast two vertical axes which are parallel and horizontally separated,these constituting two vertices of a parallelogram formed by therespective horizontal suspension device, as seen in a horizontal plane,the other two vertices being fixed with respect to the chassis.
 7. Avehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the wheel connectingsystems comprises a wheel carrier defining the axis of rotation of therespective wheel, wherein each wheel carrier is guided translationallyrelative to the respective support in a rectilinear movement parallel toan axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the respective wheel.8. A vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein each wheel carrier ismounted on the respective support by means of a single bar sliding inthe support, the wheel carriers being mounted on the bars at the twoends of the latter, each bar being arranged in the volume delimitedradially by the rim of the respective wheel.
 9. A vehicle as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the variation in the camber angle of the wheels and thevariation in the roll angle of the passenger compartment aresynchronous.
 10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidcontroller comprises a microprocessor and at least one sensor forsensing the value of at least one parameter representative of thetransverse acceleration of the vehicle, said microprocessor controllingadjustment of the camber mechanism.
 11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1,wherein the passenger compartment is interconnected with the chassis viathe camber mechanism.
 12. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein thecamber mechanism comprises an arm mounted on each support on an axis ofsupport and mounted on the chassis, a rod displaced transverselyrelative to each arm, and wherein the camber mechanism, as seen in avertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle,forms a parallelogram on either side of the chassis, two vertices ofwhich are formed by two mounting points located on the supports andarranged vertically one above the other and two parallel sides of whichare formed by the arms and the rods parallel thereto, the arms and therods terminating at the mounting points.